May First Pulse 2019

F irst Pulse

First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids | grfumc.org

May 2019

Stories from First Church and the impact on the lives of our community.

F irst Pulse

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May 2019

On the cover A

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Spring has finally arrived.

Join us for one of the many events taking place this month.

On Palm Sunday, we welcomed 16 new members.

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The annual Palm Sunday Pancake Brunch, served by our youth.

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OUR MISSION To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

OUR PURPOSE

To fulfill the call of Christ to be spiritually alive in the city while embracing the world.

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INCLUSIVITY Inclusiveness means openness, acceptance, and support that enable all persons to participate in the life of the Church, the community, and the world; therefore, inclusiveness denies every semblance of discrimination.

Pastor’s Message

What an exceptional Lenten season we have enjoyed at First Church this year!

During the six years that I have served as Pastor, the Lenten season has been one of the highlights of our programmatic year. As a congregation, we seem to enter Lent with a desire to grow spiritually. Our Holy Week services this year have been outstanding. We began with Palm Sunday, then celebrating communion on Maundy Thursday, hosting the Good Friday service, and then, two magnificent Easter morning worship experiences. They were ALL special with unique and memorable qualities to each service. We had over 475 in worship on Palm Sunday and over 700 in the two services on Easter Sunday. It also appears that we will reach our $12,000 goal for the Easter Mission offering. As of Tuesday morning, April 23, approximately $10,500 has been given. All of it represents GREAT news that’s worth celebrating!

Thank you for your faithfulness in making ministry happen.

On Palm Sunday, we welcomed 16 new members who joined First Church by profession of faith, transfer of membership from other Christian denominations, or transfer of membership from other United Methodist congregations. As part of our liturgy, I asked four edited questions that we will continue to ask as we welcome new members in the future. We have received positive feedback from the new members as well as seasoned members of the congregation. For years now, I have wanted to re-write the “historic” questions in an effort to update them, and with the diversity that we had in this particular class, it seemed fitting to make the adjustments now. The language of the questions came from a collaboration between Joan, Tim, and me.

What I found intriguing was that a half a dozen people who are long time attenders and involved in various ministries of First Church (but have never joined as members), said to me, “Now, those questions I can answer affirmatively with integrity.”

Their observations communicated to me once again that words matter! What we write and recite in liturgy makes a difference in how people connect (or not connect) with God and the church!

I decided to share those questions with you, so that we all can reflect and re-commit ourselves to faithful participation at First Church.

1. Do you reject all that inhibits human flourishing and accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?

2. Do you desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, put your trust in God’s grace, and genuinely strive to follow the way of life that Jesus exemplified and taught?

3. Will you remain devoted to Christ through the United Methodist Church, doing everything in your power to both strengthen its ministries and expand its vision of what it means to be in ministry with all God’s people?

4. Will you participate faithfully in the congregational life and ministries of Grand Rapids First United Methodist Church by your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness?

If the previous historic questions have somehow been a deterrent in your decision to join First Church, consider, study and pray about the revised questions above. If you might be ready to unite formally with our congregation, please contact me, Pastor Tim, Pastor Joan, Sami, or Patsy.

Finally, I want to share a brief overview of our May worship schedule.

Sunday, May 5th is Communion Sunday with Pastor Tim preaching and leading worship at 8:15 and 10:45 am. Then at 4:30 pm, we are hosting a “west side of the state” Service for Inclusion for all United Methodists to continue our solidarity with the movement all across the Church to support and affirm full inclusion of the LGBTQIA persons.

On Sunday, May 12th, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism on this Festival of the Christian Home/Mother’s Day. I will be preaching on the subject, It Takes a Village at the 8:15 and 10:45 am services.

May 19th is a multi-emphasis Sunday with one service at 10:45 am with our youth leading worship and the celebration of graduates.

May 26th begins our summer schedule as we move to one service at 10:00 am (through the first Sunday of September). Pastor Joan will be preaching.

I invite and encourage you to join us regularly as you can in worship and the activities of First Church. You will be enriched by your participation.

May God’s grace and peace abound with you and through you in this beautiful season of spring.

Pastor Bob

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Radical H ospitality

Our Table is Open Have you noticed that the timing of communion has moved around in the worship order? Typically, we celebrate communion after the message, as a response to the message. However, there have been a few Sundays that we’ve celebrated communion earlier in the service. This is so we could invite our children to the table, too!

During worship following the Children’s Moments, kids ages three through second grade are invited to Children in Worship. So our children wouldn’t miss out on communion, we began sharing in communion in their classrooms (Pastor Tim would sneak away to serve them). This is a meaningful time of worship and teaching, but something was still missing. We missed having our youngest worshippers share communion with the entire church!

To bring our youngest to the table during worship, we’ve moved some of our communion times earlier in the service. (Some Sundays they still share in communion in their classroom so they can ask questions and learn together.) It has been a beautiful experience of community and a great reminder that all are invited to the table. Our youngest, our oldest, and everyone in between are beloved children of God. Sami Marasigan Director of Hospitality and Invitation Holy Week 2019: Thank you to all who helped make Holy Week a meaningful time of faith and community!

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PASSIONATE WORSHIP Music and Arts Ministry

“Our Lady of Paris” Still Stands

Like many of you, I looked on with horror when I heard that the famous Notre Dame de Paris was on fire. All seemed to be headed toward total loss when the central spire collapsed. From the aerial views, it appeared that the entire cathedral had been taken over by the flames. Miraculously, there were no severe injuries, and thanks to the incredible response of the 400 firefighters (pompiers) including a robot named Colossus, “Our Lady of Paris” still stands.

Having done the “roof ” tours at Canterbury and Lincoln Cathedrals during my residencies there in the summer of 2016, I have seen how the roof structure of a cathedral is constructed. Above the beautiful vaulting of the ceilings, there is an elaborate wooden structure that supports the roof. This wooden maze of beams and support structures at Notre Dame was known as “The Forest.” An apt title, because there was plenty of wood and kindling to make quite a conflagration. Most of these timbers dated to the medieval origins of the cathedral. In some ways, it’s amazing that it had not caught fire previously. At Notre Dame, a fireman was always on the premises, making a regular inspection of the roof structure. As it turned out, it apparently took less than an hour for the entire roof structure to catch fire.

Of course, of significant concern was the condition of the organs. Again, miraculously it seems, the primary organ was largely undamaged by the fire.

Recent reports indicate a noncorrosive dust has covered the instrument, but that it can be cleaned. A small puddle was found on one of the wind chests, and yet only one of the very large pipes had any water in it. Le Grand Orgue, located in the west gallery, is protected by a stone roof that connects two towers of the cathedral. The water was able to run off this roof and down side walls, away from the organ. It is likely that the organ will be enclosed in a protective, waterproof case during the renovation, rather than completely dismantled, which would carry other risks.

More details will be known as the reconstruction plans are unveiled in the coming months.

The “choir” organ is a smaller instrument in the

chancel at the east end of the cathedral. It was thoroughly soaked with water, and its condition is a bit more precarious at this point. Further examination in the coming weeks will determine how much of this organ is salvageable.

There are three “titulaire” (principal) organists at Notre Dame, and all three are well known performers.

The organ is a very important part of a cathedral such as Notre Dame. The sound of the organ as it reverberates and moves about the space and the way it accompanies the singing are vital aspects of the work of a cathedral. The cathedral organ, and in particular, the Grand Orgue becomes a significant “voice” of commentary that helps shape the flow and action of the liturgy. Olivier Latry was the organist on Palm Sunday, a day before fire broke out. As part of the liturgical tradition, at the Palm Sunday service, one of the priests knocks at the door with the processional cross. Latry recalled that moment in the service as the doors were opened and he let the organ sound forth in all its brilliance: “It sounded like Christ was entering the cathedral. It was such a moving moment.

I didn’t know it would be my last time.” Another of the organists, Philippe Lefebvre said that when one plays the organ at Notre Dame, “the stones are singing,” referring to the way in which the sound reverberates throughout the space.

Effective organ installations seem to make the whole building vibrate as if the building itself is singing.

Vincent Dubois, another of the cathedral’s organists said of the organ, “Once you play it, its part of your body, of your mind, and your soul.”

Notre Dame de Paris is a significant part of French identity, and it is hard to grasp the impact that this fire has had, not only in France, but around the world.

The reconstruction of Notre Dame will certainly raise ethical and moral questions about the use of private and public funds. France is going through a time of political turmoil, and it is interesting to put this fire and the costs of rebuilding into that larger context as well.

Eric Strand Director of Music and the Arts First Pulse | May ‘19

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May 2019 Wednesday, May 1 MLK Spring Outing 6:00 pm – Disciple I Thursday, May 2 MLK Spring Outing 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Sunday, May 5 Communion Sunday 8:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 8:15 am – Sunday Worship 8:30 am – Children’s Chapel 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 10:15 am – Yourth Choir 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship and Shine: Sensory Room 11:45 am – Blood Pressure Clinic 2:30 pm – Walk for Good Food 4:30 pm – Service for Inclusion with meal following 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga for 50s and Beyond Monday, May 6 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry 6:30 pm – Methodist Connection

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Tuesday, May 7 7:00 am – Work Program 5:30 pm – SPRC Meeting

Monday, May 13 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:00 pm – Board of Trustees

Wednesday, May 8 6:00 pm – Disciple I 7:30 pm – Steering Committee for the Way Forward

Tuesday, May 14 7:00 am – Work Program 5:30 pm – Finance Committee

Thursday, May 9 9:30 am – Moms’ Group: Summer Morning Playdate 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Thursday, May 9 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers Friday, May 10 6:30 pm – Moms’ Group: Makeup and Styling Party Sunday, May 12 Mother’s Day Baptism Sunday Coffee Can Offering Diaper Drive for Grace’s Table 8:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 8:15 am – Sunday Worship 8:30 am – Children’s Chapel 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 10:15 am – Yourth Choir 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship and Shine: Sensory Room 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Yoga for 50s and Beyond

Wednesday, May 15 9:00 am – Caring Connection 6:00 pm – Disciple I Thursday, May 16 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship Friday, May 17 College Scholarship Applications Due Saturday, May 18 1:00 pm – Youth Service Rehearsal Sunday, May 19 Youth Sunday 9:00 am – Youth Service Rehearsal 9:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 10:15 am – Yourth Choir 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship and Shine: Sensory Room 12:00 pm – Unplugged: Geocaching and Ice Cream 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga for 50s and Beyond B

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Monday, May 20 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 12:00 pm – 60+ Luncheon 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry Tuesday, May 21 7:00 am – Work Program 6:00 pm – FAN of I Light: Specialized Grief Group 6:30 pm – Missions Commission Sunday, May 26 9:45 am – Summer Nursery Care 10:00 am – Worship 10:15 am – Shine Sensory Room 10:15 am – Summer Children’s Chapel 11:00 am – Lemonade on the Lawn Monday, May 27 Memorial Day Church Building and Offices Closed 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study (Offsite)

Thursday, May 30 Michigan UMC Annual Conference 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship

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Friday, May 31 Michigan UMC Annual Conference 6:30 pm – I Light Studio: Restorative Sound Immersion

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Youth preparing for the 2018 Youth Service.

Rev. Dr. Alvin Padilla was the guest speaker at the Community Good Friday Service.

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2019 Cuba Mission Trip

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Easter Sunday Children’s Moment at 9:15 am

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Tuesday, May 28 7:00 am – Work Program 6:30 pm – Congregational Care Visioning Committee Wednesday, May 29 5:30 pm – Moms’ Group: Baby Party!

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Intentional Faith Development 2019 Youth Service For the past few months, the senior high youth have been spending their Sunday evenings working diligently to put together a worship service that shares their faith. Now the youth of our church are ready to take over and would like to invite you to join us for worship at 10:45am on May 19. The youth will be leading every aspect of the service from the Call to Worship to the Benediction, and everything in between. This year’s service will focus on facing the giants that pop up in our lives. The youth will share stories of giants they have faced and how they overcame them.

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We will also take time to recognize all of the high school seniors who will be graduating with the Class of 2019. They have put in an enormous amount of time and effort to reach graduation, and we believe their hard work deserves to be celebrated. We will invite all of our graduating high school students to come forward during the service to acknowledge their accomplishments and provide them with a gift. We will say a prayer for them and our 2019 college graduates.

service. Students will spend the week working with other youth from around the country to repair various homes in the community.

The summer mission trip provides students with an opportunity to grow in their faith while serving a community outside of Grand Rapids.

During the service, there will be a special offering for our summer mission trip. This year our youth will be traveling to North Lawrence, Ohio, for a week of

Heather Yzenbaard Director of Senior High Youth

We hope you will join us on May 19 at 10:45am to support the youth and all of the work they have put into planning and preparing for the service.

Risk-Taking Outreach and Mission During the first week of April 2019, a mission team from First Church visited our sister church in Herradura, Cuba. We had a wonderful time of ministry and fellowship with our Cuban siblings in Christ, and were able to provided much-needed support for their vibrant ministries.

This annual trip is especially meaningful for our First Church high school students, several of whom have attended this trip over the years.

Here are some reflections from two of the students who were on our team this year.

Dr. Joan VanDessel Director of Community Outreach and Mission Emma Schuiling This has been the second time I was able to go back on the Cuba mission trip. I would’ve never gone on this trip if my friend Sydney was not going.

Through the first Cuba mission trip, I grew close with her, and it had always been our dream to go back together. I never thought it could get any better than the first time I went, but it did. It was the most important and rewarding trip because I saw firsthand what it meant to be truly humble and full of joy. Our church family in Herradura is sincerely grateful to God for everything in their lives. Even though they possess very few material comforts, they feel blessed

by God and wholeheartedly want to share the good news with the surrounding community. I was able to speak Spanish and it allowed me to connect with the people on an entirely different level, especially with the kids my age. Not only have I grown connections with the Cuban people, but also with the team from First Church that went. I saw how much they loved God and the Cuban people, too. The day our team left Cuba, I became sad that we were leaving, but I was reminded that no matter where I am, our Cuba

family will always be connected to First Church because of the same God we both worship and love. God has completely blessed me through this experience.

Sydney Judnich The hardest part of the Cuba mission trip for me has been leaving. The connections you make and the people you meet are truly one of a kind. I have been blessed to be able to go to Cuba for my third time. This trip will open your eyes to their poverty but most importantly to their faith. They give their lives to Christ unlike I had ever seen before. On this year’s mission trip, we had a meeting with many leaders of the church and toward the end of the meeting everyone got emotional and started sharing how our sister church connection impacts them. I will never forget how one young man from Cuba said how it is hard for them because they want to show their appreciation for us but have no way materialistically to do so. He said they are always praying for us and thinking of us, though. This broke my heart because after 3 mission trips I never once felt like we were in need of payment. After every trip I had only thought about how I could thank them in some way for renewing my faith. They have changed my life and shown me what living your life completely for Jesus looks like. They proved that it has nothing to do with money or materialistic things. As amazing and appreciated the items we bring for them are, what we receive in return is worth so much more than they could ever imagine.

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EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY Resource Development

Beating Your H ead Against the Wall For the last two weeks, a cardinal has perched itself in a bush outside the window of our home. Several times a day, she will fly into the pane of glass as if trying to fly through. She will hit the glass, bounce off, perch for a moment, and then try again. Having no success in her apparent goal, she will move to another bush outside another window and repeat the process there several times. She will then go away for a while, but then return and start all over again.

At first, I thought she was perhaps “drunk” on some fermented tree berries, but now after two weeks, I’m not sure. At any rate, I have grown to admire her unbelievable determination! I am reminded of the phrase “beating your head against the wall.”

Sometimes the work of the church can feel like we are this cardinal. We work hard to make a difference in a hurting world, yet it seems even more hurt presents itself. We work in mission but hear of yet even more needs. We work locally at MLK Leadership Academy to nurture and support the kids there, but see even more needs that are not being addressed. We supply resources to local food pantries, yet hunger remains. With all our efforts, it can still feel like we are bouncing off the wall!

Sometimes it’s important to take a moment and reflect on all that we are indeed accomplishing! First Church continues to be a vital beacon of hope for all those

The youth served a pancake breakfast on Palm Sunday.

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we touch. Many in our church family have immersed themselves in ministry that has enabled our success.

Our incredibly generous church giving enables us to expand our reach and plan new ways to bring God’s love to those who long to receive it.

Our denomination is currently struggling with difficult questions about sexuality and inclusiveness, yet through all of this, First Church is remaining true to its calling to be a welcoming and inclusive family of disciples to any who wish to join us in our mission.

Our giving so far in 2019 has been exactly as planned.

This is a testament to our congregation rising above the continuing intense debate over our structure and organization to focus on doing the work of the church and answering God’s call to ministry.

Thank God for all at First Church who so generously continue to give of their time and money. Even though there are days when we feel like that bird I can hear right this moment bouncing off the glass, we can take satisfaction in knowing that we are marching forward as a church family as we bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to so many!

Chris Hawkins Finance Committee

Congregational Care

“What is Congregational Care?”

“Who will answer that Congregational Care phone if I call?”

“When should I use the Congregational Care line?”

Congregational Care is people listening to people. One of the most important characteristics of care is listening to the stories, concerns, joys, hardships, and challenges of our First Church and Clark communities and finding ways to respond with the love of Jesus Christ.

The pastors, pastoral care assistants, and congregational care assistants serve differently, yet united in a commitment to care. All teams make daily visits in hospitals, rehab facilities, homes, and retirement communities, but each person has a different level of training that best equips them to respond to the different needs of you, your family, and our community. The team includes Rev. Dr. Bob Hundley, Rev. Tim Tuthill, Dr. Joan VanDessel, Dr. Leandro Robles, Rev. Joe Huston, Fr. Rock Badgerow, and Denise Niswonger. Our Congregational Care team is comprised of Tom Conquest, Dick Mieskowski, Barb Moser, Jo Seamon, Peggy Thompson, and Lois Walker.

Monday evenings for continuing education and peer support.

While we are fortunate to have such dedicated and well-trained staff and volunteers to respond to Congregational Care needs, you have the potential to make the greatest impact on our congregation and larger community. Get to know the people you see at church week after week. Exchange phone numbers and check in on one another. Notice when someone isn’t in church and reach out. And if you feel like your gifts lie in Congregational Care, email Denise Niswonger at denisen@grfumc.org to begin a conversation about how you can share your gifts with our church and Clark communities.

Rev. Tim Tuthill Associate Pastor and Director of Congregational Care

Raising the cross at the community Good Friday Service.

When you call the Congregational Care line, a member of the team will answer or respond to the message you leave. You should call or text the phone if you have a pastoral care need. The number is 616.551.9944 or email care@grfumc.org.

Stephen Ministers are church members, trained to provide confidential, Christ centered care to people who are hurting through weekly, one-on-one meetings. Our Stephen Minister team gathers on First Pulse | May ‘19

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